Location: Satu Mare

Situation:
In the period leading up to EU accession, Romania has seen sustained growth. Since 1997 many reforms have been undertaken, particularly in the social and child protection sectors. The process specifically dealt with the role and participation of civil society organisations in relation to child welfare. Currently, of six million children in the country, 45 000 are still in institutional care. Because of the weaknesses of the Romanian system, de-institutionalisation has not been evaluated, particularly in relation to mistreatment and abuse of children.

Activities:
In the absence of any Romanian child abuse prevention experts, Doctors of the World UK’s PACA regional delegation is monitoring the supervision of new childcare professionals by working with the Romanian organisation COPII.
There are two parts to this work:
• Continuing professional education for professional childcare assistants (AMPs) and organising support groups;
• Supporting the Romanian association, COPII.

Outlook:
• Carry on with the continuing professional development programme;
• Organise specific training sessions for AMPs who look after abandoned children under one year old;
• Work in collaboration with the management of child protection services in order to facilitate contact between the AMPs and birth families. COPII will participate in the child protection reforms, particuarly in order to obtain authorisation to be a training organisation.

Project start date: April 2004     

End date: On-going